Re: mono band 2 meters rig based on the micro BITx circuit
#ubitx
#2meters
Several things, like others have repeatedly pointed out the uBITX is very unsuited for FM or AM.
FM needs wider filter and far more gain to get the needed limiting action.? Its not drop in its full
replacement.? A Baofeng UV5R goes for 30 bucks and does 2M and 70CM.? ??AM there are
issues with drive level and sustained power out, that and its sparsely used.? My opinion is
that if you want all that get a FT817, its a do all and has a noise blanker.
To get the front end to cover VHF the LO system deliver a VHF LO (95mhz for 6M, about 99 or 189mhz for 2m)
and the input filter needs to pass the VHF band and not a low pass.? IF memory sers the 5351 can go to 220Mhz
A LNA before the mixer would be required for reasonable performance.? ? For UHF if you had a version of the
5351 or maybe used a si570 flavor to generate the LO and an improved mixer 432 is possible but its more
effort and would likely need a board redesign.
UHF is better done with a competent converter/transverter with a 404mhz LO and run that into a uBitx at 28mhz.
In all cases 6 though 70cm the tx power chain would need work as the drivers are all 300mhz FT devices?
just will not do it.? ?The IRF510 I've used at 50mhz as a monoband linear and its respectable
(40+W for push pull @ 28V properly done for 6M only) but I think maybe 70mhz is a stretch without
first trying.? In all cases the TX chain is mono band only as VHF impedance matching from stage
to stage is required. Just dropping in higher FT devices will not help its a across the board redesign
for a specific band.
Receiving is easy enough, transmit above 50mhz is going to be harder.
Allison
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On Fri, Apr 27, 2018 at 6:44 PM, John Kemker <kemkerj3@...> wrote: Okay, upon rereading my last message in this topic, I realized I sounded like I didn't know how to solder.? :/
I need the pinout for the Micro-USB cable to solder to the PCB that the USB-B socket is already soldered to.
--
73 de W5NNH
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Hi !
I am also interested in seeing filter plots measured on a professional test instruments.Not much information is available on topic. Dishal predicts totally different values for capacitors and impedance for same xtal parameters than the software from EMRFD.?
Pete N6QW has also put up on his blog having some frustrating time with the filters calculated in Dishal.
I too conducted some experiments with my homebrewed SNA, yes indeed pass band ripple was low but the was not satisfied with the filter skirt. Possibly my parameter measurements were not that precise.
Lately I have started experimenting with a different xtal filter . The half bridge lattice by OM? Rolf Heine DL6ZB
?An 8 xtal dual cascade appears to be an attractive option for following reason:
Simple in design , highly compatible with uBitx architecture and TIA's strong Z's. Xtal matching need not necessarily required and more poles of filtering for same number of? xtals, Easy bandwidth change same filter can perform dual function for SSB as well as CW? and yes the bifilar coils can be the existing matching transformer.?
In his discussions on Facebook groups OM Rolf has posted couple of multi pole designs ,need to look around.
Anyone for this hack....
73
Rahul VU3WJM
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Okay, upon rereading my last message in this topic, I realized I sounded like I didn't know how to solder.? :/
I need the pinout for the Micro-USB cable to solder to the PCB that the USB-B socket is already soldered to.
--
73 de W5NNH
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Re: Diagnostic software for uBitx
#ubitx
Great idea. If the Arduino only had
more inputs we could do a really thorough job with some mods.
On 4/27/2018 8:09 PM, John wrote:
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I have started
developing a diagnostic software for the uBitx.?
The need arose following a forum member's trouble with his
Raduino.
The objective is to help both the original kit builder for issues
like wiring or "not working" problems, but also to the more
advanced experimenters both during construction and after "oops
moments" like after a bad wiring or when a loose lead that "is
only there for 5 seconds and will never touch another part of the
circuit" went wandering around the board (I raise my hand here).
So far it only tests the I2C bus, the communication with the
SI5351 and the analogue inputs of the Raduino in a graphical form.
The plan is to expand to the audio circuit, the receiver chain,
the TX low pass filters' relays and hopefully more.
This is where I need your input to determine what to test for in
the first instance and then some ideas to make the test results as
simple but still useful to more advanced users.
So if you can give me some feedback as to what issues you had when
building the kit that I could incorporate in the diagnostic
software either as a new test or as a suggestion as to how solve
the issue, as a self help, that would be great.
Tests need not be Arduino only tests. Operator 's interpretation,
as in "Do you hear the tone in the speaker, Y/N" are quite ok.
I have uploaded the beta version of the software at?/g/BITX20/files/uBitx%20Diagnostic%20software%20by%20VK2ETA/ubitx-Diagnostic%20-%20Version%20B0.2-2018-04-28.zip
Passed the tests are the questions of deployment and the best way
to do that since new kit builders may not be familiar or confident
to setup the Arduino's IDE. So maybe HEx files and a simple
terminal...ideas welcomed.
All the best,
73, John (VK2ETA)
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Diagnostic software for uBitx
#ubitx
I have started developing a diagnostic software for the uBitx.? The need arose following a forum member's trouble with his Raduino. The objective is to help both the original kit builder for issues like wiring or "not working" problems, but also to the more advanced experimenters both during construction and after "oops moments" like after a bad wiring or when a loose lead that "is only there for 5 seconds and will never touch another part of the circuit" went wandering around the board (I raise my hand here). So far it only tests the I2C bus, the communication with the SI5351 and the analogue inputs of the Raduino in a graphical form. The plan is to expand to the audio circuit, the receiver chain, the TX low pass filters' relays and hopefully more. This is where I need your input to determine what to test for in the first instance and then some ideas to make the test results as simple but still useful to more advanced users. So if you can give me some feedback as to what issues you had when building the kit that I could incorporate in the diagnostic software either as a new test or as a suggestion as to how solve the issue, as a self help, that would be great. Tests need not be Arduino only tests. Operator 's interpretation, as in "Do you hear the tone in the speaker, Y/N" are quite ok. I have uploaded the beta version of the software at? /g/BITX20/files/uBitx%20Diagnostic%20software%20by%20VK2ETA/ubitx-Diagnostic%20-%20Version%20B0.2-2018-04-28.zipPassed the tests are the questions of deployment and the best way to do that since new kit builders may not be familiar or confident to setup the Arduino's IDE. So maybe HEx files and a simple terminal...ideas welcomed. All the best, 73, John (VK2ETA)
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
I'm not sure what "fake" means in this context, since the Uno design is part of the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 agreement. Simply stated it means you can use the design on your own derived works, in part or completely,
as long as you also adopt the same license, which I believe is the case for all clones. Indeed, that license is one of the great things about the Arduino family of boards: they can be, and are, second-sourced, which keeps the prices down.
The CH340 chip is not a problem since the driver is readily available at .
Over the years I have purchased dozens of clones and, with one exception, they all worked fine. That one exception had a bug in the bootloader. I reflashed the chips and they, too, were fine. For someone who is just trying to find out if they want to get involved with microcontrollers, clones are an inexpensive way to dip your toes in the pool.
Jack, W8TEE
On Friday, April 27, 2018, 6:49:48 PM EDT, John Backo <jabac@...> wrote:
Unfortunately, Jack, the picture shows what appears to be a UNO fake.
Most of the clones use a CH340 USB chip; this appears to use a ATMega16U
like the original UNO , and so is a copyright violation.
It works, but...
john
AD5YE
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Re: ND6T AGC implementation for uBIT-X
Put me down for two kits, SMT or other, doesn't matter.
Thanks ...? ? Mark? ? AA7TA
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
DuWayne, nd6t has a circuit to measure forward and reverse power. I am only using reverse power because maximum forward power and minimum reverse power doesn't seem to occur at the same tuning point on my tuner. So I figured I'd just use the reverse power measurement to minimize any impact reverse power would have on the ubitx. Be careful of the forward power measurement. You can easily get over 5volts even with just the ubitx. I am looking to use an adafruit ADC board with I2C interface so I don't need a second processor. It's a work in progress. tim ab0wr On Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:52:03 -0400 "DuWayne Schmidlkofer" <duwayne@...> wrote: I have been playing with a Pro Mini and a small OLED display to use
as a stand alone replacement for a analog meter. The existing
Raduino does not have enough analog input pins to provide everything
I wanted to measure. info on my blog at
Still working on a small board to provide forward and reflected power
readings for a SWR/power measurement.
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
Unfortunately, Jack, the picture shows what appears to be a UNO fake.
Most of the clones use a CH340 USB chip; this appears to use a ATMega16U
like the original UNO , and so is a copyright violation.
It works, but...
john
AD5YE
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Re: ND6T AGC implementation for uBIT-X
I'd also be good for the SMT kits or boards when ready.? (0805 honestly doesn't scare me, as I've messed about with 0805 fairly regularly for SMT boards)
73,
KI4QGJ
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
DuWayne? KV4QB
Love your little 0.96 inch meter faces.? 8-)
In doing something similar I used two ADC inputs as DC voltmeters so I could
measure the voltage on either side of a component and subtract the lowest to
show the difference.? This allows for measuring current through a component
that has both ends above ground.?
I am beginning to wonder why someone has not started a line of Arduino assisted
test equipment?? Products could evolve from simple voltmeters to fancy spectrum
analyzers.
Keep up the good work.?
Arv? K7HKL
_._
On Fri, Apr 27, 2018 at 3:52 PM, DuWayne Schmidlkofer <duwayne@...> wrote: I have been playing with a Pro Mini and a small OLED display to use as a stand alone replacement for a analog meter.? The existing Raduino does not have enough analog input pins to provide everything I wanted to measure.? info on my blog at
?
Still working on a small board to provide forward and reflected power readings for a SWR/power measurement.
--
DuWayne? KV4QB
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Re: mono band 2 meters rig based on the micro BITx circuit
#ubitx
#2meters
Makes sense the transverter approach. Not sure whether the ones from Ukraine could match well. But is a different approach. You need both hf and transverter. This may give some advantages? but is not very handy for sota or portable operation.
Il 27/apr/2018 23:49, "Thomas Sharka via Groups.Io" <sharkatw= [email protected]> ha scritto: I haven't really been following all the details of the conversation, but how about a front end mixer to convert VHF to HF? You'd still need to work out something for FM but most other modes would be covered. ?
On Friday, April 27, 2018 5:11 PM, Tim - M0THM <tim@...> wrote:
4 and 2m ssb would certainly grab my eye.
?
Hi Ken, the driving motivation here is for Single Side Band operations, with that said your totally and completely correct there is absolutely no financial benefit to building an FM only VHF circuit.?
with the 45MHz crystal filter I can see it maybe working on 4 Meters, 2 Meters, and maybe 1.25 Meters. so I could see a reasonable compromise being a dual band rig with 2 meters and the option of 4 meters or 222MHz.? for 6 meters I understand a different crystal filter would need to be employed.?
-Justin N2OTH?
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
Care to share the S-meter code?
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ
Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC
Staunton, Illinois
Owner ¨C Operator
Villa Grand Piton ¨C J68HZ
Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I.
Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com
Like us on Facebook!
Moderator ¨C North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
email: bill@...
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-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected]] On Behalf Of DuWayne Schmidlkofer Sent: Friday, April 27, 2018 4:52 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [BITX20] A steal for Arduino Experimenters I have been playing with a Pro Mini and a small OLED display to use as a stand alone replacement for a analog meter. The existing Raduino does not have enough analog input pins to provide everything I wanted to measure. info on my blog at Still working on a small board to provide forward and reflected power readings for a SWR/power measurement. -- DuWayne KV4QB --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
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Okay, so I've been putting the uBitx in the case.? Anyone have any idea how to solder the USB cable from the Raduino to the back USB-B connector?
--
73 de W5NNH
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Re: mono band 2 meters rig based on the micro BITx circuit
#ubitx
#2meters
If this new 2 meter radio would be used on FM¡ it¡¯s time to start over.? Most of the IF chain will have to be modified to work including the crystal filters and addition of a discriminator¡. And a way to frequency modulate the oscillator on transmit.? Way too much work to perform on a uBITx.? Start over from scratch. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton ¨C J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: Like us on Facebook! ? Moderator ¨C North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thomas Sharka via Groups.Io
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2018 4:50 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] mono band 2 meters rig based on the micro BITx circuit #ubitx #2meters? I haven't really been following all the details of the conversation, but how about a front end mixer to convert VHF to HF? You'd still need to work out something for FM but most other modes would be covered. On Friday, April 27, 2018 5:11 PM, Tim - M0THM <tim@...> wrote: ? 4 and 2m ssb would certainly grab my eye. Hi Ken, the driving motivation here is for Single Side Band operations, with that said your totally and completely correct there is absolutely no financial benefit to building an FM only VHF circuit.?
with the 45MHz crystal filter I can see it maybe working on 4 Meters, 2 Meters, and maybe 1.25 Meters. so I could see a reasonable compromise being a dual band rig with 2 meters and the option of 4 meters or 222MHz.? for 6 meters I understand a different crystal filter would need to be employed.?
-Justin N2OTH?
?
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Re: A steal for Arduino Experimenters
I have been playing with a Pro Mini and a small OLED display to use as a stand alone replacement for a analog meter. The existing Raduino does not have enough analog input pins to provide everything I wanted to measure. info on my blog at
Still working on a small board to provide forward and reflected power readings for a SWR/power measurement.
--
DuWayne? KV4QB
|
Re: mono band 2 meters rig based on the micro BITx circuit
#ubitx
#2meters
I haven't really been following all the details of the conversation, but how about a front end mixer to convert VHF to HF? You'd still need to work out something for FM but most other modes would be covered. ?
On Friday, April 27, 2018 5:11 PM, Tim - M0THM <tim@...> wrote:
4 and 2m ssb would certainly grab my eye.
?
On 2018-04-26 22:33, freefuel@... wrote:
Hi Ken, the driving motivation here is for Single Side Band operations, with that said your totally and completely correct there is absolutely no financial benefit to building an FM only VHF circuit.?
with the 45MHz crystal filter I can see it maybe working on 4 Meters, 2 Meters, and maybe 1.25 Meters. so I could see a reasonable compromise being a dual band rig with 2 meters and the option of 4 meters or 222MHz.? for 6 meters I understand a different crystal filter would need to be employed.?
-Justin N2OTH?
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With your Raduino running + / - of the crystal filter's center frequency in say 100 Hz step and connecting it to the input of the crystal filter and
measuring the output of the crystal filter with a RF probe you will be able to plot the actual crystal filter response on the paper. With this plotted performance you will actually know the center frequency of your crystal filter and also both the total pass bands slopes. Now you can accurately determine your BFO carrier frequency for allowing correct pass band? thru the crystal filter and placing BFO to that frequency.
So a RF probe you should have or construct to help you other than your ears
Satish
VU2SNK
On Sat, Apr 28, 2018 at 2:19 AM, David Beal <aardvarq@...> wrote: Hi all,?
Unfortunately, I don't have any equipment except my ears to measure the power levels.??
After calibration, during receive, my radio has what seems (to my ears) to be relatively poor suppression of the unwanted sideband.? Adjusting the USB BFO frequency hasn't made any dramatic improvement.? I'm running KD8CEC firmware and IF Shift isn't giving me any real joy either.?
Is anyone else seeing the same?? Is there some adjustment that I'm missing to improve this???
Thank you & 72
Dave Beal
AE6RQ
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Re: ND6T AGC implementation for uBIT-X
Please add me to the list for 2 SMT kits.
73 Paul? K9MV
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K9HZ
DuWayne Schmidlkofer
Satish Chandorkar